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Reading Time: 6 minutesBuilding a top-tier gaming rig can be pretty overwhelming. After all, not everyone has the time or energy required to research which components pair best with each other when the list of options is in the hundreds.
Thankfully, big players in the PC industry – like Dell – understand the needs presented by modern games, and have released lines of gaming desktops to fit all needs. Dell’s Alienware brand is dedicated to this purpose and one of its champions is the Aurora R11 Gaming Desktop.
Shop the Alienware Aurora R11 Gaming Desktop
With multiple configurations, easy customization and a track record for high-end gameplay, the Aurora R11 Gaming Desktop has been thrilling gamers for years. Check out a few of our favorite features and learn about how you can customize the Aurora 11 to meet your exact needs.
Alienware Aurora R11 Specs (Base Configuration)
- 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10400F (6-Core, 12MB Cache, 2.9Ghz to 4.3GHz w/Turbo)
- AMD Radeon RX 5300 3GB GDDR6
- 8GB HyperX FURY DDR4 XMP at 2933MHz, expandable up to 64GB
- 1TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s
- Killer E3000 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet NIC
- Dell Wireless DW1810 (1×1) 802.11ac with Wi-Fi, Wireless LAN, Bluetooth 5.0
- Micro ATX motherboard, Intel Z490 Chipset
- Alienware High Performance Liquid Cooling (Optional)
- 4 unique programmable zones with up to 16.8 million distinct colors (Lunar Light)
- Chassis Colors: Dark Side of the Moon or Lunar Light
- Dimensions: 18.9 x 17.4 x 8.8 inches | Weight: 30.42 lb
Out of this World Design
Credit: Dell
Reminiscent of a starship’s jet propulsion system, the Alienware Aurora R11 Gaming Desktop has one of the most unique designs on the market. The chassis comes in two color options: Dark Side of the Moon for gamers with a preference for stealth and Lunar Light for players who like to shine.
While many gaming PCs boast excessive RGB lighting, this machine offers a more minimalist approach to capture the simplicity and essence of alien technology. With AlienFX RGB lighting, you can program 4 zones with up to 16.8 million distinct colors on the Lunar Light model and 2 zones for the Dark Side of the Moon chassis.
The Aurora R11 is constructed with upgradeability and longevity in mind. The side panel is easily removable and unveils an innovative PSU swing-arm. This enables a variety of benefits like tool-less graphics and expansion bays and a compact chassis size. It also allows graphics cards to be perfectly positioned for purposeful airflow.
Intergalactic Performance
Credit: Dell
The Aurora R11 comes in all sorts of configurations for every level of gamer. The starting package features a decently powerful i5 10400F CPU that can be overclocked to speeds of 4.3GHz. For even more processing prowess, you can also upgrade the PC or choose a model with a 10th Gen Intel Core i9 10900KF. This 10-core processor performs at nearly double the benchmark with Turbo Speeds up to 5.3GHz.
As for graphics, the base model starts with an AMD Radeon RX 5300 3GB GDDR6. This is an entry-level GPU with performance similar to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, so it will have no problem playing most games at 120+ FPS on high settings in 1080p and it is also VR Ready.
Like the CPU, you have a ton of options for upgrading the GPU. At the highest end of the spectrum, you can equip your Aurora R11 with the awe-inspiring NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 24GB GDDR6X. This monster of a GPU was made available on September 24th, 2020, and it is the crème de la crème of graphics cards. With quite a bit of runway in terms of future-proofing, the RTX 3090 runs games smoothly at 4K resolutions and is more than capable to handle the 8K content that will almost certainly unfold in the coming years.
With such high performance, it is important for your PC to stay cool. The base model comes with a Low-Profile Smart Cooling Heatsink Solution that is pretty aligned with traditional PC ventilation practices. However, for the first time in Alienware’s desktop history, the company has introduced a new optional liquid-cooled graphics solution based on a PCIe-mounted heat exchanger and smart fan blower design. It’s engineered for lower temperatures and more reliable graphics overclocking to produce higher-quality visual performance.
Astronomical Memory and Storage
Credit: Dell
While the CPU and GPU are the most vital components of a gaming rig, you can’t forget the importance of RAM. In the base configuration of the Aurora R11, you’ll find an 8GB HyperX FURY DDR4 XMP. Though 8 gigs may not sound like much, this specialized RAM offers advantages in several areas over standard random access memory sticks, including overclocking, lower power consumption, and better heat management.
All of these factors result in better performance for your device and your gameplay. If you prefer more RAM power, you can expand it up to 64GB on the base model. Or you can select a top-end configuration that features an indulgent 128GB Dual Channel HyperX FURY DDR4 XMP at 3200MHz.
With PC games continually pushing the envelope in the graphics department, the file sizes are getting larger as well. The base Alienware Aurora R11 model offers a 1TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s hard drive which can hold a decent number of games. But with some games as large as 200GB, more storage doesn’t hurt.
This unit can be customized to house a dual drive with up to 2TB of SATA and 2TB of SSD. With a total storage capacity of 4TB, you can amass games to your heart’s content. The addition of a solid state drive also adds to the overall efficiency of the device with lightning-fast boot speeds, faster transfers and lower power consumption.
More Ports than a Space Station
Credit: Dell
If you consider yourself a technophile, your home is likely inundated with all sorts of gadgetry. Understanding this, Dell has designed the Aurora R11 Gaming Desktop to serve as a main hub for all your USB-reliant devices. The entire PC features a total of 15 USB ports with a mix of Type-C and Type-A.
Take a look at the Aurora R11’s impressive list of ports:
Front
- (2x) Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1
- (1x) Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1 with Powershare Technology
- (1x) Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port with Powershare Technology
Rear
- (6x) Type-A USB 2.0
- (1x) Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2 with Powershare Technology
- (1x) Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 2
- (3x) Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1
Intelligent Alien Software
If you like tweaking settings, the Aurora R11 also comes with the Alienware Command Center pre-installed to optimize your gameplay. This software gives you control of a number of things, such as overclocking your components, modifying fan settings or customizing controls. This is also where you’ll be able to modify the AlienFX RGB lighting to your liking and set macros for specific games.
The Alienware Command Center scans your device for games automatically, and you can alter each title’s preferences individually. The program has a simple and easy to use UI, which allows you to launch games directly from it, as well.
Where to Find the Best Deals on the Aurora R11
Credit: Dell
The Alienware Aurora R11 Gaming Desktop can be found at Dell.com, starting as low as $949.99 for the base model. There are currently six configurations to choose from, but you always have the option to customize the PC to your liking prior to purchase. To help you figure out which model is the best for you, Dell’s product page allows you to compare them and see what kind of FPS you will get for specific games.
Unfortunately, there are no deals currently for the Aurora R11. However, Dell has site-wide sales pretty often and this gaming desktop has been part of many prior discount events. With Black Friday coming soon, we may see a nice price drop in the coming months. The best thing to do is to set up a Deal Alert and get notified the next time this PC goes on sale.
Quan Tsang
A long-time bargain pirate, Quan has been scouring the digital seas for discounts and spreading the savings throughout Slickdeals for years. His Aggregate Reviews help many consumers gain comprehensive insights on the latest cutting-edge gadgetry. Despite his unconditional love for tech, Quan’s favorite deal category is actually watches. Thanks to Slickdeals, he has amassed over three dozen timepieces for his collection.